Sheena Morris case: FDLE reviews police chief

Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 3:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 6:45 p.m.

BRADENTON BEACH - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing whether Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale leaked confidential documents from the Sheena Morris death investigation to a reporter from a weekly newspaper.

Morris’ mother, Kelly Osborn, said Speciale released a copy of a personal letter she received from John Burke, the special agent in charge of FDLE’s Fort Myers office.

Burke did not return calls Wednesday but FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger confirmed that the police chief’s actions are being scrutinized by her agency.

“We are looking at the incident. It is under review. It is not an investigation,” Plessinger said Wednesday.

Speciale did not return calls or emails seeking comment.

Morris was found hanging in the shower stall of a Bradenton Beach hotel on New Year’s Day 2009.

Osborn, Morris’ other family members and several forensic experts say the crime scene was staged and that the 22-year-old was murdered.

Osborn said the FDLE copied Speciale with the correspondence as a courtesy, and that he should have kept the contents confidential because the case is open and active. Osborn said she was furious when she learned the details.

“How could a police department that is handling an open murder investigation share info while the investigation is ongoing?” she asked. “It just proves how inept and incapable they are of handling any case. Every time they mention the case they call it a suicide. They have never been objective.”

In the letter, the FDLE agent asked Osborn to provide evidence that she had earlier refused to give to Bradenton Beach Police because she did not trust them.

Osborn said she intends to file formal complaints against Speciale with FDLE and Bradenton Beach, and she wants him and the small police department completely off the case.

Currently, FDLE is assisting the Bradenton Beach Police Department with the controversial case.

“BBPD needs to relinquish control of the entire investigation. FDLE needs to take over,” Osborn said. “FDLE, with their experience and their experts, has already been handling the case very well, and they’ve been keeping it confidential.”

Osborn also sent a letter to Bradenton Beach Mayor John Shaughnessy, asking him to discipline the police chief.

Shaughnessy, who has supported Speciale, did not return calls seeking comment.

In the written statement, Osborn said she “intends to take the necessary action to involve Governor Rick Scott to oversee the removal of the statutory authority and control of the BBPD in this case.”

Morris and her fiance, Joe Genoese, checked into the Bradenton Beach hotel on Dec. 31, 2008.

After she was found dead the next day, hanging by a dog leash in the shower, Osborn began a four-year struggle to prove her daughter did not commit suicide.

Morris’ autopsy report was later changed by the local medical examiner to “undetermined.”

After a special report by the Herald-Tribune published in July, pressure began mounting for Bradenton Beach police to reopen the case or turn it to over another agency.

In August, the FDLE convened a special task force to review the death. They recommended that Speciale reopen the case and accept assistance from FDLE agents.

In October, Genoese failed a polygraph test arranged by the producers of the “Dr. Phil” show. He was asked point-blank whether he killed Morris, and the test showed that his answer was deceptive. Genoese says he had nothing to do with Morris’ death, and that the show’s producers set him up.

<p><em>BRADENTON BEACH</em> - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing whether Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale leaked confidential documents from the Sheena Morris death investigation to a reporter from a weekly newspaper.</p><p>Morris' mother, Kelly Osborn, said Speciale released a copy of a personal letter she received from John Burke, the special agent in charge of FDLE's Fort Myers office.</p><p>Burke did not return calls Wednesday but FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger confirmed that the police chief's actions are being scrutinized by her agency.</p><p>“We are looking at the incident. It is under review. It is not an investigation,” Plessinger said Wednesday.</p><p>Speciale did not return calls or emails seeking comment. </p><p>Morris was found hanging in the shower stall of a Bradenton Beach hotel on New Year's Day 2009.</p><p>Bradenton Beach detective Lenard Diaz quickly concluded that Morris killed herself.</p><p>Osborn, Morris' other family members and several forensic experts say the crime scene was staged and that the 22-year-old was murdered.</p><p>Osborn said the FDLE copied Speciale with the correspondence as a courtesy, and that he should have kept the contents confidential because the case is open and active. Osborn said she was furious when she learned the details. </p><p>“How could a police department that is handling an open murder investigation share info while the investigation is ongoing?” she asked. “It just proves how inept and incapable they are of handling any case. Every time they mention the case they call it a suicide. They have never been objective.” </p><p>In the letter, the FDLE agent asked Osborn to provide evidence that she had earlier refused to give to Bradenton Beach Police because she did not trust them. </p><p>Osborn said she intends to file formal complaints against Speciale with FDLE and Bradenton Beach, and she wants him and the small police department completely off the case.</p><p>Currently, FDLE is assisting the Bradenton Beach Police Department with the controversial case. </p><p>“BBPD needs to relinquish control of the entire investigation. FDLE needs to take over,” Osborn said. “FDLE, with their experience and their experts, has already been handling the case very well, and they've been keeping it confidential.” </p><p>Osborn also sent a letter to Bradenton Beach Mayor John Shaughnessy, asking him to discipline the police chief.</p><p>Shaughnessy, who has supported Speciale, did not return calls seeking comment. </p><p>In the written statement, Osborn said she “intends to take the necessary action to involve Governor Rick Scott to oversee the removal of the statutory authority and control of the BBPD in this case.”</p><p>Morris and her fiance, Joe Genoese, checked into the Bradenton Beach hotel on Dec. 31, 2008. </p><p>After she was found dead the next day, hanging by a dog leash in the shower, Osborn began a four-year struggle to prove her daughter did not commit suicide. </p><p>Morris' autopsy report was later changed by the local medical examiner to “undetermined.”</p><p>After a special report by the Herald-Tribune published in July, pressure began mounting for Bradenton Beach police to reopen the case or turn it to over another agency.</p><p>In August, the FDLE convened a special task force to review the death. They recommended that Speciale reopen the case and accept assistance from FDLE agents. </p><p>In October, Genoese failed a polygraph test arranged by the producers of the “Dr. Phil” show. He was asked point-blank whether he killed Morris, and the test showed that his answer was deceptive. Genoese says he had nothing to do with Morris' death, and that the show's producers set him up.</p>